Scientists have identified a new galaxy cluster is 10.2billion light years away – the farthest from Earth ever found.

So-called JKCS041, which contains hundreds of galaxies, was analysed using Nasa data.

The newly discovered galaxy cluster, known as JKCS041 contains hundreds of galxaies and is 10.2 billion light years away

The bunch, containing hundreds of galaxies, was analysed by combining data from Nasa’s Chandra X-Ray Observatory with data from optical and infrared telescopes.

Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe. Scientists hope that the findings will help them learn more about how the Universe evolved.

JKCS041 was first detected in 2006 with infrared observations. But scientists were not sure if it was a true galaxy cluster, rather than one in the act of forming.

Nor could a normal telescope tell them how far away it was.

Dr Ben Maughan, from the University of Bristol, carried out a long-term analysis of the Chandra X-ray data which has finally proved JKCS041 to be a fully-formed cluster.

Dr Maughan said: “This discovery is exciting because it is like finding a Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil that is much older than any other known.

“One fossil might just fit in with our understanding of dinosaurs, but if you found many more you would have to start rethinking how dinosaurs evolved. The same is true for galaxy clusters and our understanding of cosmology.”

JKCS041 is at the farthest point at which scientists think galaxy clusters can exist in the early Universe.